NEW YORK REGION — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) are installing thousands of animal guards across their service areas to increase energy reliability for approximately 1.3 million electric customers. These guards reduce outages by preventing wildlife from contacting energized electrical equipment. The companies are investing $13.8 million to install more than 18,000 animal guards through the end of this year.

“Keeping the power on for customers is one of our top priorities,” said Josh Shail, director of programs and logistics for NYSEG and RG&E. “Unfortunately, wild animals are one of the leading causes of power outages in the state. Animal guards are a cost-effective way to not only strengthen our grid, but protect the lives of critters simply following their natural tendency.”  

While the companies’ infrastructure could provide a temporary safe haven for a wild animal, like a squirrel climbing a pole to avoid a dog or a bird building a nest, it can be deadly if they venture too far. 

Wild animals have significantly impacted the grid over the years. In 2020, animal contacts caused 1,421 outages that impacted approximately 82,000 customers. These outages represented 8.6 percent of all company outages.

In response, NYSEG and RG&E developed the animal guard program, which tactically targets circuits across the grid. Once circuits are identified, the animal guards are installed on energized electrical equipment, including distribution transformer bushings, arresters and other infrastructure.

Since launching the animal guard program in 2020, outages caused by animals have decreased by approximately 50 percent. Last year, animal contact represented 3.87 percent of outages.